The lumber industry is very important to our Senate district and to Tennessee,” said Sen. Gresham. “The inspectors are essential to this industry’s success. I look forward to meeting these graduates and their families and to congratulating them on a job well done.”

As the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Gresham is working to elevate vocational and technical education under Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee’s new legislative initiative, called GIVE (Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education). The initiative supports regional partnerships among schools, industry, and technical colleges to develop more work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities.

Darwin Murray serves as President of McClain Forest Products in West Plains, Missouri and is a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School.

The Governor’s initiative is a welcome and much-needed jolt to the hardwood industry and other trade skill careers. “As a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School myself, I was excited to learn about Tennessee’s focus on vocational education. The School is a perfect fit for Tennessee students who are interested in a rewarding career in the hardwood lumber industry. I know first-hand that the School is just the first step in a rewarding career,” said Murray.